Polarity reversing switch for electroplating equipment



April 1967 E. B. GELTNER 3,315,057

POLARITY REVERSING SWITCH FOR ELECTROPLATING EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

mmazzgeafzw BY WJ ub-w April 18, 1967 E. B. GELTNER 3,315,057

POLARITY REVERSING SWITCH FOR ELECTROPLATING EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 0 0 lfiw O will! 0 M66 I INVENTOR.

United States Patent nois Filed Sept. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 400,037 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-153) This invention relates to a switch for use in reversing the polarity of current for electroplating equipment.

The main objects of this invention are; to provide an improved reversing switch for facile and positive operation in reversing the polarity of electric current required for electroplating equipment; to provide an improved arrangement of bus-bar panels having means normally biasing the panels to move the bus-bars toward their open, circuit-breaking relationship to permit changing their contact relationship during the open circuit; to provide improved manually-operable cam means for shifting the busbar panels into and out of a closed-circuit relationship; and to provide a switch of this kind of such simple construction and effective operation as to assure a firm contact between the bus-bars when the switch is set to close the circuit but assure a completely open circuit during the interval of changing the position of the panels for closing the bus-bars for effecting plating and deplating use of the equipment.

FIGURES 1 and 2 are front vie-wsshowing the deplating and plating positions, respectively, of a polarityreversing switch constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side elevational views of the switch in the closed and open positions, respectively;

FIG. 5'is an enlarged, front, elevational view, with a bit more structural detail, with the switch parts in the same position as that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 6 is a similarly-enlarged, side, elevational view as that shown in FIG. 5, but with parts broken away to show the circuit breaker; and

' FIG. 7 is an enlarged, partly-elevational, partlysectional view of the parts shown within the circle A of FIG; 6.

The essential concept of this invention involves a support, mounting a pair of panels, whereon is fixed pairs of spaced bus-bars, spring-biased axially toward a relativelyretracted position for opening a circuit through the busbars, and'manually-operable means for effecting the relatively axial and rotative shifting of the pair of panels and for reversing the polarity of current for plating and deplating use of electroplating equipment, and for effecting positive contacting of the respective bus-bars.

A polarity-reversing switch, embodying the foregoing concept, comprises a support 11 mounting a pair of panels 12 and 13, on one of which dual pairs of panel bus-bars 14 and 15 are fixed and on the other of which panels a single pair of bus-bars 16 is fixed. The panels 12 and 13 are shiftably supported on a shaft 17, with interposed oppositely-biasing springs 18 and 19, and subject to control by a cam lever 20 which, incidently, activates a circuit breaker 21.

Thesupport 11, preferably, is a metal box structure comprising a flanged, channel-shaped body 22 closed by removable end plates 23 the front of which is close-d by the panel 12.

The panels 12 and 13 are very similarly formed of fiber board mounting-boards 24 and 25 with dish-shaped spring steel backing elements 26 and 27, respectively. Such panels are arranged in axially-opposed relatively-shiftable relationship on the shaft '17, with interposed collars 28 and 29 embraced by the springs 18 and 19, as will be ex- Patented Apr. 18, 1967 plained presently. To these mounting-boards 24 and 25 are directly fixed the two pairs of bus-bars '14 and '15, and the one pair of bus-bars 16, respectively.

The two pairs of bus-bars '14 and 15 are conventional metal pieces secured at their opposed inner ends along the opposite lateral perimeter of the mounting-board 2'4. Suitable fasteners, such as rivets 31, secure these bars in oppositely-disposed relationship with the outer ends extending beyond the mounting-board 24. So arranged these bus-bars 14 and 15 provide the requisite longitudinal and transverse gaps '32 and 33 (FIG. 5), between their inner ends.

The one pair of bus-bars 16, of similar formation as the bus-bars 14 and 15, is secured to the mounting-board 25 by rivet-type fasteners 34, along the opposite perimeters of the mounting-board 25, with the transverse spacing between the bars 16 being the same as the transverse gap 33 between the pairs of bus-bars 14 and 15.

The shaft 17 is supported on the collar 28 for axial and rotative shifting thereon relative to the panel 12. To that end the collar 28 is bonded to the inner face of the dish-element 26 (FIG. 6). The dish-element 26 is free to rotate relative to the mounting-board 24. At its outer end the shaft 17 is squared at 35 '(FIG. 5) to seat in a comparable square hole in the panel 13 whereby the panel 13 rotates with the shaft 17. Adjacent its inner end the shaft 17 mounts a sleeve 36 pressured against a lock-nut 37 by the spring 19. This inner extremity of the shaft 17 is so disposed as to engage and disengage a trip button 38 on the circuit-breaker 21, as determined by the axial shifting of the shaft 17.

The collar 29, matching the collar 28, is formed with an end flange 3-9 (FIG. 7) having circumferentiallyspaced holes therein for the reception of screw fasteners 40 to secure the collar 29 to the mounting-board 25 on the panel 13 and be rotative therewith. The opposed ends of these collars 28 and 29 are formed with interfitting ofisets 2'8 and 29', respectively. These permit some relative axial movement of the collars 28 and 29 on the shaft 17 but are keyed in engagement with eachother to ensure nonrotative relationship to each other, during the rotation of the shaft 17 to alter the contactive engagement of the bus-bars 16 with the bus-bars-14 and 15.

The springs 18 and 19, as shown, are interposed between the panels 12 and 13 and between the shaftsupported sleeve 36, respectively. The diiferential tensioning of these springs 18 and 19 is such that the spring 18 normally biases the panels 12 and 13 axially away from each other, when the cam lever 20 is shifted into position to permit such axial separation of the panels, as will be explained presently. The spring 19 normally biases the shaft 17 to hold the cam lever 20 in constant contact with the outer face of the dish-element 27 on the panel 13. Obviously, this will tend to bring the inner extremity of the shaft 17 into engagement with the trip button 38 on the circuit breaker 21.

The cam lever 20, as here shown, comprises a sectorshaped part 41 hinged at 42 to the squared end 35 of the shaft 17 and mounting a pair of axially-spaced, eccentrically-positioned rollers 43, and having a socket to seat the end of a lever 44.

The sector-shaped part 41 is bifurcated to seat over the exposed squared end 35 of the shaft 17 (FIG. 5) and to which squared end 35 the part 41 is hinged at 42.

The cam rollers 43 are journaled on the part 41 in offset position from the pivot 42. The lever 44 is seated in the socket end of the part 41 in alignment with its pivotal connection 42 to the shaft 17. l

The circuit-breaker 21 may be any suitable structure as, for example, a conventional microswitch. As here shown it is mounted on a bracket 45 (FIG. 6) at the back of the support box 11 in position to dispose its spring-biased trip button 38 in line with the shaft 17 to be engaged and disengaged by the inner end thereof.

The support box 11 mounts a pair of conventional press button switches 46 for turning on and off the current from cables (not shown) leading into the box through breakout parts 47 (FIG. 4).

This polarity-reversing switch is used in the following manner:

When it is desired to have the polarity of the current such as to effect a plating operation, the lever 44, first, is raised into its up position (FIG. 5). This will retract the cam rollers 43 and permit the spring 18 to axially shift the panel 13 away from the panel 12. The busbars 16 will be retracted from contact with the pairs of bus-bars 14 and 15. The lever 44 then may be used to rotate the shaft 17 to effect the comparable rotation of the panel 13 to bring the bus-bars 16 into aligned opposition with the pairs of bus-bars 14 and 15 on the panel 12. By, then, pulling the lever 44 into the down" position (FIGS. 3 and 6) the bus-bars 16 will be shifted into contactive engagement with the bus-bars 14 and 15 to span the longitudinal gap 32 between the ends of the latter bus-bars. Thereupon, the current flow will be indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2.

When it is desired to have the polarity of the current such as to effect a deplating operation, the lever 44 is shifted into the up position. This, again, will retract the cam rollers 43 and allow the spring to shift the panel 13 away from the panel 12. The lever 44, then may be pressured to rotate the shaft 17 and the panel 13 to bring the bus-bars 16 into opposed relationship to the pairs of bus-bars 14 and 15. Reshifting the lever 44 to its down position will again cause the cam roller 43 to pressure the panel 13 inwardly against the action of the spring 18 and brings the bus-bars 16 into contactive engagement with the pairs of bus-bars 14 and 15 to span the transverse gaps 33. Thereupon, the current flow will be indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1.

Upon each raising of the lever 44, and the consequent retracting of the panel 13 from the panel 12, the inner end of the shaft 17 will be disengaged from the trip button 38 thereby opening the circuit to the bus-bars. This makes possible the above-explained rotation of the panel 13 at a time when the circuit is open, thus avoiding any accidental closing of the circuit to the electroplating equipment. Each return of the lever 44 to the down" position will shift the shaft 17 to bring the inner end thereof into contact with the trip button 38 and close the circuit breaker 21.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A polarity-reversing switch for electroplating comprising:

(a) a support for coaxially mounting aligned first and second bus-bar mounting panels,

(b) said first mounting panel having two aligned pairs of spaced parallel bus-bars mounted on one face thereof, each of said pairs of bus-bars spaced an equal distance from the common axis of said panels,

(c) said second mounting panel having a third pair of parallel bus-bars mounted on the face thereof opposite to said face of said first mounting panel, each bus-bar of said third pair having respective lengths sufficient to span the gaps between corresponding busbars of each pair of said two pairs of bus-bars, and

'(d) shaft means secured to one of said panels, said shaft means having a manually operated means pivotally connected thereto fpr effecting relative rotative and axial shifting of said panels, whereby said third pair of bus-bars, in one position, spans said gaps between said two pairs of busbars, and in another position, spans the gaps between the same pairs of said two pairs of bus-bars.

2. A polarity-reversing switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shaft means comprises a shaft keyed to the second panel and rotatively supporting the first panel.

3. A polarity-reversing switch as set forth in claim 2 wherein a circuit-breaker is juxtaposed to said shaft for actuation by the axial shifting thereof to open and close the circuit to said bus-bars respectively when said panels are axially retracted or restored into contactive relationship by the opposite shifting of said manually operated means.

4. A polarity-reversing switch for controlling the current for electroplating equipment comprising,

(a) a support in the form of an open-face box,

(b) a first panel fixed on the box over the open face thereof,

(c) two pairs of aligned bus-bars fixed on the inner face of the first panel equal distances radially on opposite sides of the axial mounting of the two panels and spaced apart to form gaps between their opposite ends,

a second panel concentrically positioned with respect to the first panel,

a single pair of bus-bars fixed on the inner face of the second panel and spaced apart the same equal radial distance on opposite sides of the axial mounting of the two pairs of bus-bars and of a length sufiicient to span the gaps transversely between the two pairs of bus-bars plus their respective widths,

(f) a shaft journaled on the first panel and having one end extending through the second panel and outwardly thereof,

a sleeve fixed on the inner end of the shaft,

a pair of springs embracing the shaft one being interposed between the two panels and the other being interposed between the first panel and the sleeve, and

normally tensioned so that the one spring tends to separate the two panels and open the circuit through the two bus-bars, and the other spring normally tends to bias the panels to close the circuit through the bus-bars,

(i) a lever hinged at the other end of the shaft,

and (j) a pair of cam rollers journaled on the inner end of the lever concentrically of the pivotal connection of the lever to the shaft, whereby the shifting of the lever into one position effects the axial movement of the second panel to open the circuit to the bus-bars and allow for the rotation of the second panel relative to the first panel so that the reverse shifting of the lever will cam the second panel into position to close the circuit through the contacting bus-bars.

5. A polarity-reversing switch as set forth in claim 4 wherein the panels comprise rectangular boards on the opposed faces of which the bus-bars are secured and on the opposite faces of which are secured dish-shaped springmetal backing elements.

6. A polarity-reversing switch for electroplating comprising:

(a) a support for coaxially mounting aligned first and second bus-bar mounting panels;

(b) said first mounting panel having two aligned pairs of spaced parallel straight bus-bars mounted on one face thereof, each of said pairs of bus-bars spaced an equal distance from the common axis of said panels;

(0) said second mounting panel having a third pair of parallel bus-bars mounted on the face thereof opposite to said face of said first mounting panel, each bus-bar of said third pair having respective lengths sufficient to span the gaps between corresponding busbars of each pair of said two pairs of bus-bars; and

(d) shaft means secured to one of said panels, said shaft means having a manually operated means pivotally connected thereto for effecting relative rotative and axial shifting of said panels, a circuit breaker positioned adjacent said shaft means for actuation respectively, said manually operated means having eam means for positively shifting said shaft means upon pivotal movement of said manually operated means for opening and closing said circuit breaker.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 328,695 10/1885 Leonard 2001 1,915,991 6/1933 Hammerly 200l53 2,762,876 9/1956 Glogau et al 200-453 X 2,851,674 9/1958 Boone 2006 X 3,217,211 11/1965 Norden 3171 19 X ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

1') thereby to open and close the circuit to said bus-bars,

H. HO-HA'USER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A POLARITY-REVERSING SWITCH KFOR ELECTROPLATING COMPRISING: (A) A SUPPORT FOR COAXIALLY MOUNTING ALIGNED FIRST AND SECOND BUS-BAR MOUNTING PANELS, (B) SAID FIRST MOUNTING PANEL HAVING TWO ALIGNED PAIRS OF SPACED PARALLEL BUS-BARS MOUNTED ON ONE FACE THEREOF, EACH OF SAID PAIRS OF BUS-BARS SPACED AN EQUAL DISTANCE FROM THE COMMON AXIS OF SAID PANELS, (C) SAID SECOND MOUNTING PANEL HAVING A THIRD PAIR OF PARALLEL BUS-BARS MOUNTED ON THE FACE THEREOF OPPOSITE TO SAID FACE OF SAID FIRST MOUNTING PANEL, EACH BUS-BAR OF SAID THIRD PAIR HAVING RESPECTIVE LENGTHS SUFFICIENT TO SPAN THE GAPS BETWEEN CORRESPONDING BUSBARS OF EACH PAIR OF SAID TWO PAIRS OF BUS-BARS, AND (D) SHAFT MEANS SECURED TO ONE OF SAID PANELS, SAID SHAFT MEANS HAVING A MANUALLY OPERATED MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED THERETO FOR EFFECTING RELATIVE ROTATIVE AND AXIAL SHIFTING OF SAID PANELS, WHEREBY SAID THIRD PAIR OF BUS-BARS, IN ONE POSITION, SPANS SAID GAPS BETWEEN SAID TWO PAIRS OF BUS-BARS, AND IN ANOTHER POSITION, SPANS THE GAPS BETWEEN THE SAME PAIRS OF SAID TWO PAIRS OF BUS-BARS. 